Sevens: New-look Auckland backed

NOUS: Former national rep Rocky Khan is back for Auckland.

Auckland carry winning form into today's national provincial sevens tournament in Rotorua as they seek to go one better than in 2014.

Last season Waisake Sotutu's side were beaten by Wellington in the final, but have won 12 titles, the best of any province since the 1975 inception of this event.

Auckland beat neighbours Counties Manukau in the final of the Bay of Plenty Sevens in Mt Maunganui last weekend, and were runners-up in last August's Club World Sevens in London. Unless you follow Auckland club rugby closely, you may not recognise many of their 12-man squad, but they have talent aplenty.

"There's a few names that are known from Auckland club rugby and we've had to go there because we've lost a few names from last year, including most of our forward pack," said Sotutu.

Out go Ben Lam, Akira Ioane and Leon Fukofuka (in Super Rugby squads) and in come Mitch Karpik (player of the national Under 19 tournament in October), Danny Tusitala and Rieko Ioane.

The latter, believed to be signed to the Blues for 2016, is fresh out of Auckland Grammar's First XV, but already looks the goods. Auckland lost Suburbs' Varasiko Duisokosoko to a spilt eye, but have succeeded in exposing players to the higher level of sevens last weekend and at the regional qualifiers last month. Former New Zealand reps Rocky Khan and Tutu Tairea will provide some of the sevens nous.

Otago, Mid Canterbury and Manawatu are in Auckland's pool today, and so they should have little trouble in progressing to the Cup rounds tomorrow.

"We've got to qualify and build for that second day. It helps if we get through without any injuries and try and conserve a bit of energy," said Sotutu, who will not be over-burdening them with goals.

His assistant Ed Cocker, a semi-retired former All Blacks Sevens rep, will be turning out in an invitational match today featuring some of the great names of New Zealand sevens rugby, including Liam Messam and DJ Forbes, who is, strangely, not available to Counties Manukau for the tournament.

This is Rotorua's second stint at hosting the national tournament. There are 16 teams in the men's competition.

Hawke's Bay and Southland of the ITM Cup unions missed qualification, and the other 12 are joined by Heartland unions Horowhenua Kapiti, Wairarapa Bush, Mid and South Canterbury.

Defending Cup champions Wellington, coached by Scott Waldrom, will be one of the hot favourites, with the likes of Auckland, Taranaki, Waikato and perhaps hosts Bay of Plenty.

In the 10-team women's section, Auckland, coached by touch legend Peter Walters, will be bolstered by several New Zealand reps such as Tyla Nathan-Wong and Portia Woodman, the latter scoring 11 tries in Mt Maunganui last weekend, as they swept to the title. The two-time defending champions Manawatu will be keen for a hat-trick.

One of the greats of the New Zealand's women's game, Anna Richards, lends her name to the player of the tournament trophy for the first time.

Counties Manukau are in Auckland's pool from the big smoke region. North Harbour missed qualification.